The magnificent Orion nebula, powered by Trapezium, and observable by small telescopes

The magnificent Orion nebula, powered by Trapezium, and observable by small telescopes

March 12, 2017 [CLICK ON IMAGE FOR HIGH RESOLUTION, Christoph Kaltseis, CEDIC 2017] Near the center of this sharp cosmic portrait, at the heart of the Orion Nebula, are four hot, massive stars known as the Trapezium. Tightly gathered within a region about 1.5 light-years in radius, they dominate the core of the dense Orion […]

Alnitak, Alnilam, Mintaka: The glorious belt of Orion

Alnitak, Alnilam, Mintaka: The glorious belt of Orion

[CLICK ON IMAGE FOR HIGH RESOLUTION /  Rogelio Bernal Andreo] Otherwise known as the Belt of Orion, these three blue supergiant stars are hotter and much more massive than the Sun. They lie about 1,500 light-years away, born of Orion’s well-studied interstellar clouds. In fact, clouds of gas and dust adrift in this region have […]

Stars of the Trapezium light up the spectacular Orion Nebula

Stars of the Trapezium light up the spectacular Orion Nebula

Near the center of this sharp cosmic portrait, at the heart of the Orion Nebula, are four hot, massive stars known as the Trapezium. Gathered within a region about 1.5 light-years in radius, they dominate the core of the dense Orion Nebula Star Cluster. Ultraviolet ionizing radiation from the Trapezium stars, mostly from the brightest […]